Sounders FC Acquires the Rights to Kenny Cooper

RENTON, WASH. – Seattle Sounders FC has acquired the rights to forward Kenny Cooper and allocation money from FC Dallas in exchange for midfielder Adam Moffat, the club announced today. Per Major League Soccer and club policy, terms were not disclosed.

Cooper, 29, has made 188 career appearances since joining MLS in 2006, scoring 72 goals with 16 assists. The seven-year MLS veteran ranks seventh amongst active players with 72 goals, and ranks sixth in MLS with 32 goals over the past three seasons.

“Kenny is a proven goal scorer who is extremely active in the box,” said Head Coach Sigi Schmid. “At 6’3, he is a big forward who creates matchup problems for opposing defenders.”

In his return to FC Dallas in 2013, Cooper finished second on the team with six goals, starting 19 of his 31 appearances. He previously spent his first four MLS seasons (2006-09) with FC Dallas, scoring 40 goals in 90 appearances.

Cooper earned team MVP honors in his first season with Dallas in 2006, ranking second on the team with 11 goals while starting 29 of 31 appearances. Following an injury-shortened second season, Cooper scored a career high 18 goals in 2008, earning MLS All-Star and Best XI honors. He was also named the MLS Comeback Player of the Year and team MVP in 2008. In 2009, Cooper scored seven goals in 15 games for FC Dallas.

On July 31, 2009, Cooper transferred from FC Dallas to TSV 1860 Munich, where he was limited to 14 appearances and two goals in Germany’s second division. He returned to MLS in 2011, playing in all 34 matches for the Portland Timbers with six goals (2nd on team). Cooper joined the New York Red Bulls in 2012 and matched his career high with 18 goals (2nd in MLS), including five multi-goal games.

Cooper began his professional career with Manchester United where he was loaned to Oldham Athletic of England’s League One, scoring three goals in five league games. Cooper has four goals in 10 caps with the U.S. National Team, making his last appearance in 2009.

Moffat, 27, joined Sounders FC in a midseason trade on September 13, 2013. He made six appearances with four starts for Seattle, and started all three of the club’s postseason matches. A seven-year MLS veteran, Moffat has made 116 appearances with 12 goals and six assists for Columbus, Portland, Houston and Seattle.